Parkinson disease, a progressive
neurodegenerative disorder, is caused by the pathological accumulation of
proteins, including the ubiquitous presynaptic
protein α-
synuclein. Alterations in the metabolism of α-
synuclein have clearly been linked to neurodegeneration, and early steps in the pathological sequence of this
protein include the formation of oligomers, fibrils, and small aggregates. Targeting these early steps of oligomerization is one of the main therapeutic approaches in the quest to develop disease-modifying agents.
Molecular chaperones, molecules that can mediate the proper folding and refolding of client
proteins, are vital to cell function and survival and thus have been explored as potential therapeutic agents. Important to
Parkinson disease, chaperones are capable of preventing α-
synuclein misfolding, oligomerization, and aggregate formation as shown in vitro and in
Parkinson disease animal models. Furthermore, chaperones and associated co-chaperones are closely linked to pathways of protein degradation, like the
ubiquitin-
proteasome system and autophagy, and are thus able to remove irreversibly misfolded
proteins. In this review, we summarize the role of
molecular chaperones in
Parkinson disease models and discuss the importance of preserving protein homeostasis to prevent neurodegeneration. We also review the growing number of exciting studies that have targeted
molecular chaperone function as a novel therapeutic approach.